Inkjet Print Head Nozzle Array Directional Ink Ejection Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printing technologies face challenges in preventing the generation of connecting streaks between bands due to ink amounts and air stream influences, as existing methods focusing solely on ink data thinning are insufficient in addressing these issues.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet printing apparatus with a print head having nozzle arrays arranged in crossing directions, an adjusting unit to control ink ejection from specific nozzles, and a control unit to manage ink ejection amounts based on scanning directions, thereby adjusting ink ejection to minimize streak formation caused by both ink amounts and air stream differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If print data are thinned out based on sum of ink amounts and data number, then connecting streak generation is restricted to some extent, but connecting streak cannot be appropriately prevented due to ignoring air stream influences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating ink ejection control based on the specific scanning direction. The adjusting unit identifies nozzles at end positions of nozzle arrays and applies different ink ejection amounts depending on whether scanning occurs in the first or second direction, thereby locally optimizing print data for each direction to prevent connecting streaks caused by air stream variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of ink ejection amount based on scanning direction. The control unit varies the ink ejection amount from nozzles at end positions depending on the scanning direction (first or second direction), thereby adapting the printing parameters to compensate for direction-dependent air stream effects and prevent connecting streaks.
2Quantity of substance
If ink ejection amount is increased to improve print coverage, then connecting streak generation is reduced, but air stream effects cause uneven ink deposition and streak visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the ink ejection amount variable rather than fixed. The adjusting unit dynamically adjusts the ink ejection amount from nozzles at end positions based on the scanning direction, allowing the system to adapt ink deposition quantities to compensate for air stream variations and achieve uniform print results.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the nozzle array into end position nozzles and other nozzles, applying different control strategies to each segment. The adjusting unit specifically targets nozzles at end positions of nozzle arrays and modifies their ink ejection amounts independently, thereby segmenting the control approach to address direction-dependent air stream effects.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively restricts the generation of connecting streaks by optimizing ink ejection amounts and air stream influences during scanning, improving print quality by reducing streak visibility across scanning directions.
Implementation Method 1
a self-air stream generated at the time of ejecting ink
Implementation Method 2
an inflow air stream generated at the time of transfer of a carriage at scanning
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a print head having a plurality of nozzle arrays; a scanning unit configured to perform scanning of the print head in a first direction and in a second direction; an adjusting unit configured to adjust an amount of the ink ejection from a first nozzle unit including a predetermined number of nozzles arranged at one of end positions of a first nozzle array, the number of nozzle arrays arranged at a side of the first direction from the first nozzle array is less than the number of nozzle arrays arranged at a side of the second direction from the first nozzle array; and a control unit. The adjusting unit adjusts the amount of the ink ejection such that amount of ink ejection in the scan of the first direction is smaller than amount of ink ejection in the scan of the second direction.